Gor look to start the year on a high with Posta date

• Gor are unbeaten so far this season
• They lead the standings with a five-point gap over Posta
• Police face Homeboyz in another fixture

Gor Mahia are keen to have a perfect start to the year, as they take on Posta Rangers in the first FKF Premier League fixture of 2024 and the final of the first leg. The record champions are so far unbeaten in the campaign after 16 matches, and lead the standings with a five point buffer over second placed Rangers.

Head coach Jonathan McKinstry will be keen to see his side continue with the unbeaten run, and winning against the team closest to them in the standings will be crucial in his ambition to keep the run intact.

“We know that we will face a very tough opposition. Posta has shown what they are capable of doing this season and their position on the table is testament of what they can do. We expect a difficult game but always, any team that plays against Gor Mahia puts in their best,” said the tactician.

The two week holidays break has come as a huge blessing for Gor who had some of their key players picking knocks after their last match of 2023 against Bandari in Machakos, and the tactician should have a fully fit squad to take into the Rangers match.

Meanwhile, Posta are keen to beat Gor to reduce the gap on top to a mere three points. The mailmen have had a good season, though the last few games of the year didn’t quite pan as planned.

Rangers have just two wins in their last five matches, and just like Gor, they closed down the year with victory, a 2-0 win away to Ulinzi Stars. Coach John Kamau will be keen to beat K’Ogalo, in what can turn out to be a statement of intent heading into the new year.

Gor with a better head to head record 

Cavin Odongo of Posta Rangers (left) battles for the ball against Boniface Omondi of Gor Mahia.

It will be a tough task for Rangers as over the last 22 meetings between them and Gor, they have only won four times and lost 11. Seven matches have ended in draws.

Last season, Gor won the first leg 2-0 while the second leg ended 2-0, a match that the champions led 2-0 before Posta scored two late goals. Posta’s last win over Gor was in January 2022 when they thrashed them 3-0.

Meanwhile in other fixtures lined up for Saturday, on form City Stars will take on FC Talanta at the Ruaraka Complex. City Stars have put behind a poor start to the season to rise all the way to fifth in the standings after five consecutive wins.

Head coach Nicholas Muyoti has seen his side transform, especially with an entirely new team after massive exits at the end of last season.

Since losing 3-1 to Tusker FC in November, City Stars have won five straight games, and keeping three clean sheets while at it. Against FC Talanta, a side they have beaten five times over the last 11 meetings, they will be keen to go for a sixth successive victory.

A win will potentially put them to second, if Kakamega Homeboyz, KCB and Posta Rangers above them fail to win.

Talanta winless in the last five 

FC Talanta celebrate their win over Posta Rangers

FC Talanta are winless in the last five, with three losses and two draws. Ken Kenyatta’s side are winless since November 10, and have dropped down all the way to 11^th in the standings, and victory will be crucial to keep their hopes of climbing into the top half.

Elsewhere, fourth placed Kakamega Homebozy will be at the Police Sacco Grounds taking on hosts Kenya Police FC in another mouth-watering duel. Police have been a team in crisis at the end of last year, with a divided technical bench and playing unit.

However, with coach Zdravko Logarusic departing after a series of controversies, Salim Babu has taken charge as head coach, and will be leading the team into the duel against Homeboyz.

Back to back losses, with only one victory in the last five games have put Police in a tight spot and are in a must win situation against an equally flailing Homeboyz. Patrick Otieno’s side has also lost their last two matches, but before then, had won three in a row.

In other fixtures, Bandari host Nzoia Sugar in Mombasa, while Shabana FC host Muhoroni Youth at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homabay.